Operation Co-operation - a mixed case celebrating co-operative wineries - a six bottle box set

At these turbulent times politically this case celebrates co-operative wineries, which range in scale from just a few vineyard owners to hundreds who come together to share resources and expertise. 

White wines

Valdibella, Ariddu, Sicily, Italy - If we're slightly obsessed with Sicily, you'll have to forgive us. This latest arrival from the very wonderful Valdibella cooperative is only feeding our obsession. Valdibella is a group of 10 growers who have set up this Co operative project, they are all organic farmers at the very least but the purpose of the Co Op is to push all members towards biodiverse and regenerative agriculture. While the Valdibella coop's main focus is on wine they embrace polyculture, partly to enhance biodiversity in their environment, and produce food - pasta, flour, almonds, oil and vegetables- with produce from their members.  The word ‘Ariddu’ is the local name for the grape ‘Grillo’. It’s elegant and well balanced, delightfully delicate with a hint of herbs and a light touch of citrus. Grapes are handpicked and left on their skins overnight prior to fermentation, then pressed and fermentation happens naturally in steel tanks. The fermentation lasts for around 20 days, then aged for six months in stainless steel. Unfiltered and unfined. 

Producer - Valdibella
Country - Italy
Region - Sicily
Appellation - Camporeale
Variety / Blend - Grillo
Wine Style - White Wine
Farming - Organic    
Vegan

La Guardiense, Calvese, Falanghina del Sannio, Campania, Italy - This mixed-farming cooperative was set up over 60 years ago by 33 far sighted farmers in the hills of inland Campania, south of Naples. Today it has over 1,000 members, most of whom only have tiny plots of land.
You know how we love a great co-operative. It’s often in these hidden gems that the local varietals are found and where they get a chance to shine. La Guardiense is innovative and exacting and makes wines that truly express the unique climate and soils of Campania.
We love the Falanghina grape for its subtle hints of orange flower water, crystallised peel and minerality as well as a depth and richness that lingers. Perfect with pasta or with some of Campania’s other great product, Buffalo Mozzarella!


Producer - La Guardiense

Country - Italy

Region - Campagnia

Variety / Blend - Falanghina

Wine Style - White Wine
Vegan

Mont Rocher, Viognier, Pays d’Oc, France - From Terres Fidèles, a cooperative winery in the Languedoc in the south of France where they make wines with a true sense of place. These grapes are grown on black shist with patches of limestone on terraces above Vallèe d’Aglyold from old vines. The grapes are tasted in August to determine the best day to harvest to ensure they are at their peak. The grapes have a short maceration period on the skins and then cold fermented in stainless steel tanks where it ages. By avoiding oak ageing the wine retains the zippy vibrancy of these grapes with a balanced acidity and freshness, expect natural apricot, peach and honeysuckle aromas. Fabulous with fish and light chicken dishes. 

Producer - Mont Rocher
Country - France
Region - Languedoc
Appellation - Pays d’Oc
Variety / Blend - Viognier 
Wine Style - White Wine
Vegan

Red wines

Les Vignerons d’Estezargues, Les Oliviers, Southern Rhône, France - When other co-ops were chasing volume and low cost, Estezargues went for quality and converted to organic viticulture. A brilliant Côtes du Rhône that offers great value, generous ripe fruit and a delicate touch of spice and white pepper.

Producer - Les Vignerons d'Estezargues
Country - France
Region - Southern Rhône
Appellation - Cotes du Rhône
Variety / Blend  - Grenache, Syrah
Wine Style - Red Wine
Farming - Organic
Vegan

Kellerei Meran, Blauburgunder, Südtirol, Italy - This is made by a co-operative winery dating back to 1901 near Meran, a lovely town in the mountains of North East Italy. Made from Pinot Noir, locally known as Blauburgunder, grown on vineyards which have been compared to small terraced gardens and which are enclosed by cypresses and cedars. The cool nights and sunny days - Südtirol typically has 300 sunny days each year - are perfect for ripening Pinot Noir without it getting to high in alcohol or jammy. The alcoholic fermentation is carried out at a controlled temperature for 10-15 days with carefully managed maceration to extract colour and character. Malolactic fermentation then occurs before the wines are aged in small oak barrels. Beautiful with some traditional Südtirol food - plates of mountain cheese, speck, canederli...

Producer - Kellerei Meran
Country - Italy
Region - Trentino Alto Adige
Appellation - Südtirol
Variety / Blend - Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir)
Wine Style - Red Wine
Farming - Organic
Vegan

Celler Capçanes, Mas Collet, Montsant, Catalunya, Spain - The cooperative of Cellar de Capçanes had been harvesting their collective vineyards and making wine for decades but, like a lot of coops, started struggling. Then two things happened which turned things round. Dynamic German winemaker Jurgen Wagner stumbled across them in the mid '90's, realised the wine world needed to try what they had, and never left. Then a lucky meeting with an American importer resulted in significant investment in the winery and vineyards, helping them to make the most of the natural bounty on their doorstep. The village of Capçanes lies nestled in the rugged hills of the Montsant region of Tarragona. It’s fair to say Montsant is giving its more famous neighbour Priorat a run for its money and the wine of Cellar de Capçanes is most certainly in that race.

Producer - Cellar Capçanes
Country - Spain
Region - Catalunya   
Appellation - Montsant
Variety / Blend - Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan
Wine Style - Red Wine
Farming - Organic 
Vegan